<i><b>The Story So Far</b>

Mama used to let Wendy play with her necklace when
she was small. The strange eye-in-star design was one of
her earliest memories. Mama would tell her stories and
Wendy would spin the necklace and watch as it glittered.

Then, word came that her father had been lost at sea, and
Mama started acting strange. She drew unusual symbols
in chalk all over the house and read bizarre and terrible
books. Eventually, one of Wendy's school teachers grew
concerned, and Mama was sent away to the asylum,
while Wendy went to the orphanage. Before they took
her away, Mama gave her the necklace. "Keep this close,
Wendy. It'll protect you when I can't. Always remember
that your Mama loves you."

Wendy stayed in the orphanage for several years
before running away, finally deciding that she could
take better care of herself than the state could.

Now, Wendy stands in front of the bank, staring at a
photograph someone dropped into her cup when she
wasn't looking - a photograph of her father, with an
even more mysterious message written on the back,
"Soon the Red Tide rises. Stay safe, my little girl."

Looking up, Wendy feels something welling up inside
her that she hasn't felt for many years - hope.</i>